If you won't be able to return them, I guess it depends on whether you can justify the expence in the event you don't like them. They are two $25 pieces of foam after all:b If you go for the 225s, maybe you could seek out some GS1K/PS1K owners in your area? Grado pads are universally interchangeable and pop on and off very easily.

Maybe search a bit around the forum, this subject has been covered in great depth on here before.

If you decide to get the big bowls, you may or may not like what they do to the sound of the 225s, but you're gonna love them in terms of comfort(:

I think they're a bit uncomfortable, but it's worth it for the amazing mid-range... particularly for electric/acoustic guitar. The headband of the headphone can feel like it's digging into your skull unless you wear them loosely. The bowl pads that come with the SR225 and SR325 allow the inside of the headphone cup to press up against your ears and can become very uncomfortable after about an hour or so of listening. The comfy pads that come with the lower end models aren't quite as bad, although I prefer the sound clarity and detail of the bowl pads. They can get a bit itchy at times, but it's not really uncomfortable enough to distract you from listening.

I was actually fine with my RS1's when I had it, as long as they had flat pads. The headphone themselves are light and the headband is adjustable to allow for different degrees of clamping and fit, so it's just the matter of how you can tolerate the pads. The flat and the comfys I find comfortable enough.

I've had both the SR60 and SR325 years ago, eventually gave away the SR60 and sold the 325. Both sounded great to the point where I put up with the lack of comfort (worse on the 325 because they're significantly heavier), I could still wear them for a couple of hours, but my ears would be sore afterward.

Eventually I ended up getting Denon AH D1001s as well as Sennheiser HD 238s though, and I found myself using either of these most of the time while SR 325s collected dust, mostly because both were extremely comfortable, as well as more balanced sounding, they were each about a third of the price as well. Like most people on the forum at this point, it seems like I've moved past the point of being into the Grado sound. When I first joined they were often the top recommendation for new members but not these days. I also can't see myself ever disregarding comfort that much when buying a headphone again.

I have tried most of their range and owned the 60's, I never had much of a problem with comfort though preferred the flat pads on the sixties. As to sound differences I must admit it was not until reaching the GS/PS level did I notice any significant change in sound quality over the 60's and really it was only the PS's that differed significantly for the better I thought.

If I was in the market for a pair now though I love the look of the wood RS's I would just go for the 60's for I am blowed if I can hear much difference in sound signature! I have a soft spot for Grado's though, they are a little different in an old school way.

I've found that the issue of comfort is at least as subjective as sound quality, though many members talk about comfort as if we all have the same head shape, facial structure, ear size, skin sensitivity, etc. Without knowing someone's physique, assessments of comfort are close to meaningless. I know that doesn't help much, but really the only way you can know for sure is by trying different pairs for prolonged periods of time.

For what it's worth, I have smaller ears and a gaunt facial structure, and I find the supposedly uncomfortable Grados to be more comfortable than the "comfort-king" HD598's.

I've owned Grado's and Alessandro's, they are both beutiful sounding headphone's (IMO) one is not better than the other, just different. The Grado's definitly attack more than the calmer Alessandro's, and (IMO) they sound very different, so if you decide to go with one of these manufacture's headphone's be shure what you want between the two, because they are different! I previously had Grado SR80i's and then purchased Alessandro MS2i's thinking they would pretty much have the same sound signature as the Grado SR80i's, (they didn't). Yes they are awesome, but they didn't attack wich is why I like the grado's, so I recently traded for a Grado 325is, and once again am enjoying that Grado sound signature.

Also I have no issue's what so ever with comfort after stretching the headband into a U shape and letting the driver's rest over my ear's without any pressure, I wear them for atleast 2-3 hour's every night, and a long session can be 5-6 hour's with no problem.

I've found that the issue of comfort is at least as subjective as sound quality, though many members talk about comfort as if we all have the same head shape, facial structure, ear size, skin sensitivity, etc. Without knowing someone's physique, assessments of comfort are close to meaningless. I know that doesn't help much, but really the only way you can know for sure is by trying different pairs for prolonged periods of time.

For what it's worth, I have smaller ears and a gaunt facial structure, and I find the supposedly uncomfortable Grados to be more comfortable than the "comfort-king" HD598's.

Haha - this pretty much describes me as well, although I prefer to think of it as 'not having a fat head'

I own two 'phones consistently rated as very comfortable (K601 & D2000) but they don't seem all that great to me. Grados however, once I get the headband clamp right, are fine - nowhere near as bad as I was expecting.

Unfortunately It's going to be different for everyone, as you rightly say ...

I used to own the SR-60's but found that they hurt my ears after about 30 minutes of listening. I tried both the 60 and 80 pads but the pain was the same, so I had to sell them. Shame because I did really like the sound signature, especially for classic rock.